Maumee doctor now faces gun, false statement charges

A Maumee cardiologist who currently faces state charges of illegally distributing prescription pain medicine was charged in federal court today with gun and conspiracy allegations.

Barry P. DeRan, 54, was charged in U.S. District Court in Toledo with conspiracy, making false statements in the acquisition of firearms, and unlawfully dealing in firearms. According to the U.S. Attorney's office, he is accused of “conspiring with others to obtain firearms from Internet firearms dealers” by falsely identifying “the actual buyer of the firearms when completing the required firearm transfer records.”

However, Dr. DeRan's attorney, Rick Kerger, said that there “is a great deal behind this that is not disclosed in the indictment.”

“The purchases were not done for any unlawful purpose but in fact in an attempt to set up a second business for the doctor, appropriated licensed and authorized,” Mr. Kerger said. “All purchases were made from a federally authorized gun dealer.”

According to the indictment, Dr. DeRan concealed his identity as the actual purchaser of the firearms because “he was prohibited from possessing, using, carrying, or obtaining any deadly weapons by a Lucas County Common Pleas Court civil protection order.” The indictment further alleges that Dr. DeRan purchased 11 firearms from an Arizona-based dealer between August, 2010, and May, 2011, and had them shipped to a licensed Ohio firearms dealer where they were then transferred to another person “falsely identified as the actual buyer.”

The allegations are the second set of charges filed against the doctor. He is charged in Lucas County Common Pleas Court with 15 counts each of aggravated possession of drugs and aggravated trafficking in drugs, each a second-degree felony punishable by up to eight years.

Authorities allege that Dr. DeRan improperly prescribed pain medication to either people he knows or those referred to him. A March 25 trial date has been scheduled.